Edward walker



jay, j;

Jay. J.

N. PETERS, PHOIWUTHUQHIPNER, WASHINGTON, D, C,

UNITED STATES VPATENT EEICEc EDWARD WALKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 10,517, dated December 27, 1870.

the bee-hive is composed, as will hereinafter be more fully described, and has for its object to promote bee-culture, and to develop and economize the same.

The bee-box A is an oblong square in its horizontal area, to realize all the benefits of the invention, though many parts of it are applicable to every form of hive. Its upper portion is rabbeted at the sides to receive and support the projections of the top rails .of comb-frames b, and is built of boards thicker than the superincumbent honey-chamber c, and is preferably built wider at the top than at the bottom. The honey-chamber c, in its external horizontal area, is the same measurement as the upper portion of the bee-box A, so that the cap D will t equally on either; but, because the sides of chamber c are relatively thinner than the sides of chamber A, the contained space between the sides of chamber c is greater than that between the sides of chamber A, thus enabling the operator to manipulate the frames b without removing chamber c. The sides of chamberc are rabbeted to receive and support the projections of the contained comb-frames h, and allow them to be slipped from one end of chamber c to lower part of partition Y and the top part of vframes b, that the honey-box formed by the combined use of frames h and partitions Y may be moved over frames b at will without interference.

The frames h and partitions Y, as arranged, form a complete boX or chamber, open side down, and, when fastened together with clamp R, it is again separable into its several parts; also, the clamp R may be used in like manner to hold the partitions Y Y and frames b together, and can b e thus used as a bee-hive, foi` examination, swarming, and other purposes.

The clamp E consists of one or more bars, having one or more adjustable armatures, P P, projecting at right angles, and into which are inserted fastening and ac'ljusting screws or keys, wedges, or other sufficient fixture or device to secure the relative parts in position.

At the joinings of the top and side strips of comb-frames braces r are attached, giving strength to the frames. Flanges or stripsc' m are attached to the under side of the top bars of comb-frames, to serve as guides in comb-building; also, flanges S S are attached to the outer edges, and on the inside of the side bars of frames b, serving to hold in place small cross -bars z, used as combsupporters, which may be inserted to support recentlytransferred comb. The top bars of combframes are sharpened at the edges t', which edges come in contact with each other when arranged in place.

Blocks n, or elevators, are attached to such of the frames as are required to be elevated for the purpose of giving space or passageway between the top rails of comb-frames for the beesto pass above into chambers c. The elevators n are removable, so that the combined frames b may be rendered tight-fitting or open at the top at will by simply elevating or depressing the frames. This arrangement affords opportunity to control the frames of the bee-habitation, so as to be either a box, open at the top and bottom at will, or rendering it an inclosure open at the bottom only,

or connected with a superincumbent honeychamber, c, as described, by means of the passage-ways formed by the elevated frames.

T U W is a feeder, consisting of a box and wide frame united, and can be inserted or reloved from or to the bee-box in the same lanner as the comb-frames.

When the combsframes b and h and partions Y and Y Y ure arranged in place, so as i form one united chamber by combination, 1ere yet remain uncovered spaces, which ave a tendency to waste the animal heat genA rated by the bees, the addition Yof the partion-board IC, constructed wide and deep nough to completely till or cover the openigs at the sides of and under the partitions and above the frames l), thus rendering the lclosure complete for the purposes required.

U and I are for liquid food. N is a iioat; V, compartment for meal or other solid food.

and r 1' are entrances for bees; Y, open- 1 gs into feeder `from the top, which may be )vered with glass. The liquid is poured into and passes through an opening into U, and 1e Whole together forms a feeder with three parate divisions.

E is a gate, consisting of a square board, ith openings constructed in one or more of s sides or edges, to govern the entrance of ie hive, and may be held in place by butins. Said gate is of different color from the de of hive to which it is affixed, and has vaed tigures painted upon it as a help to the.

ees in finding' their home.

I1 is a box or dish, containing oil or soft rease, and also attractive bait for moths, and placed under the alighting-board, with a 1in passage-Way leading to it. The cap D nissts of an angling roof-shaped cover, high 1 the middle, and with downward-projecting idesj, surrounding the upper portions of the ive. To the inner portions ofthe sides j are ttached guides g, to hold the cap in position.

are cleats surrounding the inner portion of up D and-resting upon the upper edges cfhive'- ox. Removable cross-bars 7 (or it may be v)rds or wire) are attached to, or rest upon, `1e sidesj or cleats 3, to serve as supporters n' strawor similar loose material in the cap l, as protection against cold or the heat of ie sun. The contained'straw is impregnated 'ith strong salt brine or other pungent mateial as a defence against being infested with ermin. Openings x are pierced in the angles f the end boardsj of cap I), and are protected r covered by projections 5, which may be lied behind them with loose-structured sub tanees impregna-ted with drugs. In all the linings formed by thejunction of removable arts are inserted paekin gs or cushions ofloosetruetured material, and impregnated with alt, aloes, or other pungent substances, serv- 1g the double purpose of muiiiing ventilation nd repelling insects.

Itis especially required that the hay or othr loose-structured substance which is placed bout the i-'cntilating-opening-sf and o should e rendered unpleasant to insects by means of alt or other chemicals.

b are comb-frames, with the top bar projectig beyond the side strips, and supported in place within the bee-box by rabbets formed in the upper portion of the sides of chamber A, having braces or cleats s s and t' m. g and g g are bars or slats attached to the bee-box, to serve both as legs or supports to the beeboX, and also as guides to regulate the proper relative position of bee-box A and base-box l when connected together. H Il is a movable division-board, fitting tight to bottom and sides of bee-box, and having a passage-Way, c c, constructed through it.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

l. A bee-hive constructed substantially as describedthat is to say, the combination of the honey-chamber C with the bee-box A, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the comb-frames b, tight ittin g to each other Within the bee-box at the top and sides, the elevators n, or equivalent device, used to elevate one or more of the frames b, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the comb-frames b and h and partitions Y and YY, the partition K, constructed in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

.4. In combination with the anges S S and elevators h, the comb-frames I), constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the bee-box A, the cap D, constructed in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the cap D, or equivalent device, the porous or loose -structured packing contained therein, impregnated with salt or other pungent substance obnoxious to vermin, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

7. In combination With a box used as a bee-hive, the packing or cushioning of the joints, formed by the union of removable parts of a hive with salted or otherwise chemicalized loose-structured cushioning or packing, as a protection against vermin, and also as an element of ventilation, constructed and arranged in the. .manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

S. In combination with the bee-box A, the gate E, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the bee-box A, or

equivalent device, the oil moth-trap F and feeder T U W. constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with the frames b and h and the partitions Y and Y Y, the clamp R, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

1l. In combination with the comb-frames b,

tight fitting to each other at the sides, when arranged in place Within the bee-box, the anges S S, constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

12. In combination With the bee-box A and base-box B, the slats g and g g, constructed and arranged in the manner and for thel purposes substantially as set forth.

13. 1n combination with the cap D, constructed and arranged as described, the opening X and cover 5, constructed and arrangedv in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth. I

14. In combination with a bee-box, A, the divider H H, constructed and arranged in the manner set forth.

EDWARD WALKER. Attest:

W. F. MEDsKER, H. H.A TAYLQR. 

